Doctors have gone on to warn about the increasing incidences of STDs, such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, and mycoplasma genitalium, in India, stating that infertility is a result of these Sexually Transmitted Infections. STDs can be acquired through various body fluids during sexual intercourse and may remain unnoticed as they may not manifest symptoms. This, if not properly addressed, can result in chronic complications such as infertility in both sexes.
WHO estimates that almost 1 million people contract STDs worldwide every year, whereby India experiences almost 30 million cases. Lastly, recent research published in The Lancet has been trying to allay the alarm bells ringing in India's current TFR of 1.29, which is way below the replacement level of 2.1.
Gynaecologist Dr. Manisha Singh of Fortis Hospital in Bengaluru explained the link between STDs and infertility, specifically saying that all infections, such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, and mycoplasma genitalium, have a deleterious impact on fertility by causing inflammation and scarring of the reproductive organs. These infections tend to cause PID, a condition that further brings about chronic inflammation of the reproductive organs like fallopian tubes and the uterus, thus inhibiting the process of conception in women.
Dr. Dhivya Chandrasekar, a Consultant Obstetrician & Gynecologist at Motherhood Hospitals in Bengaluru, has stated that chlamydia and gonorrhoea are the leading causes of female infertility. These infections tend to cause PID, which causes permanent damage to reproductive organs and complicates the process of conception in women. In men, these infections can cause inflammation of the urethra, testicles, and other reproductive organs, and thus conditions like epididymitis or prostatitis, which can impair sperm production and quality.
These infections should be detected early and treated appropriately, the doctors advised, along with safe sex practices, in the preservation of fertility. Among others, when the fallopian tubes are impaired, couples could depend on assisted reproductive technologies such as In Vitro Fertilisation to conceive. Dr. Dhivya urged one to seek medical attention whenever one suspects an STI and encouraged preventive measures such as consistently and correctly using condoms, which have remained one of the most effective means of preventing STIs, including HIV transmission.
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